Thorstein Veblen Farmstead

The Thorstein Veblen Farmstead is a 19th-century farm property with a two-story frame house with clapboard siding, a granary, a chicken coop, and a barn featuring an attached milking shed. These structures work together as a complete farmstead layout.

Thomas Veblen built the farmstead buildings in the late 1860s, using limestone from nearby Big Woods for the foundation and local hardwood for interior details. The property became established as a working farm during this formative period.

The property blends Norwegian-American building traditions with Greek Revival design in its symmetrical windows and six-bedroom house layout. This combination shows how Scandinavian settlers adapted their heritage to American architectural styles.

The property operates today as a flower farm, offering seasonal bouquets and wedding arrangements in the Nerstrand area. Visitors should plan their visit during the growing season to see the gardens in full bloom.

Thorstein Veblen, who developed the concept of conspicuous consumption, carved his initials 'TBV' into a second-floor wall stud while the house was being built. This simple marking remains a personal reminder of the farm's most notable resident.

Location: Nerstrand

GPS coordinates: 44.34778,-93.04694

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:43